Repentant-Worship

When you hear the word “repentance” what do you think of? Some may think of someone with drooped shoulders, a downward look, tears of regret and sorrow. Sadness is often associated with repentance. But the Greek word, metanoia, does not have the element of sorrow. It means to change your mind and direction. If anything, there is the note of joy in it for having discovered a better way! Repentance is a gift from God when He reveals to you His thoughts and ways (which are not our ways and thoughts; Isaiah 55:8 – 9).

We bring in the element of sorrow because when God reveals His thoughts and ways to you, you feel regret and sorrow for having sinned. But until God reveals His thoughts and ways to you, you will do nothing but sin! When He does, there is presented to you a choice, good and evil. The gift of repentance is that choice. When received by faith, God’s ways are chosen, and His good and pleasing and perfect will is known for what it is; good and pleasing and perfect. When rejected, His good and pleasing and perfect will is rejected and never known or experienced. Wrong choice.

Repentant-worship is receiving the revelation of God in His presence and the gift of His thoughts and ways (the gift of repentance) and with joy, forsaking your old thoughts and ways and joining God in His! Hallelujah! There may be tears, but they will be tears of joy.

Jesus told a parable in Matthew 13:44 about a man who discovered treasure in a field, and with joy went and sold all that he had, and bought that field! There was no remorse or regret in having sold all that he had. There was joy because he had discovered something greater than all that he had!

When God reveals Himself to you, His thoughts and ways, it is a gift, the gift of repentance, and new thoughts, His thoughts, new ways, His ways, are now yours. This is true worship.

Tomorrow, we will look at who God reveals Himself to and how. But just in case something happens before then, seek after Him with all your heart!